Providenciales, 17 Oct 2014 – Turks and Caicos Islanders should not travel five West African countries because the government is strongly advising against it… you may find yourself unable to reenter the territory if you do. The government this morning issued a travel advisory around 8:30am which likely takes immediate effect… nations named were: Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. No change on how long you could be quarantined; still 21 days according to the Minister of Health, Porsha Smith. Who explained, “We have been monitoring movements globally, and note that each day additional cases of Ebola are identified in various countries. We are not isolated from the world; therefore TCIG has issued a travel advisory as a precautionary measure.” The Turks and Caicos remains Ebola free.
Questions arising now about how much influence the Premier has over his Cabinet as yet again, members of the governing side went MIA during voting on critical legislation. MM has confirmed that the Immigration Bill 2014 failed to get a second reading yesterday because both Minister of Health Porsha Smith and Minister of Government Support Services George Lightbourne were not in the House of Assembly during voting. The PDM with its eight NOs edged out the PNPs seven YESes. The governor’s appointed members abstained from voting. Minister Don Hue Gardiner who presented the bill for a second reading was encouraged to seek consultation.
